Several solar projects have received hefty subsidies as part of the Joint Solar Programme (JSP), which
aims to promote research into photovoltaic solar energy in the Netherlands.
JSP is funded by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research and by the
Amsterdam-based company NV Nuon
Energy.

Several universities also are participating in the program. Utrecht University
received funding for projects involving
solar concentrators based on luminescent-doped nanocrystals, on quantum-dot-based thin-film silicon cells and on
low-cost luminescent concentrators, and
for another project done in conjunction
with Delft University of Technology that
focuses on quantum-dot superlattice solar
cells.

Also, Nuon Helianthos, a subsidiary of
NV Nuon Energy, which recently merged
with Vattenfall AB, a Swedish govern-ment-owned energy group, has opened a

test factory in Arnhem to produce a
thin, flexible foil material for solar cells.
Development of the technology began in
1996 with an invention made by industrial
researchers at Utrecht University. Three
years ago, Nuon acquired the solar cell
foil producer Helianthos and, since that
time, has been active in developing the
technology.

Production facility planned

Once the tests are successfully completed, a production facility is planned in
Arnhem that will manufacture 1 million
square meters of solar laminate a year.
One advance demonstrated at the test factory is the ability to produce a 120-cm-
wide laminate, four times the width of
previous production. ;

anne.fischer@laurin.com

A researcher working with Nuon Helianthos in the
Netherlands is overseeing the sputtering process,
which is applying the reflective back contact of the
solar cells.